Behold, I Make All Things New
Jeff, a friend from Houston, is visiting us for a few days. Yesterday he and I hiked up John’s Rock trail to an overview of the mountains in NC. He posted a picture on Facebook of the two of us on the top of this mountain. I suppose we walked about 4 miles and climbed about 1000 feet. It was a beautiful hike.
This morning about 5:00 AM I woke up repeating these words over and over again in my mind: “Behold, I make all things new.” I got out of bed and sat in my chair and asked God “what do you mean?” I felt Him say “look it up.”
Here are the three passages of Scripture I found that connect with what I think God was trying to tell me:
“Do not remember the former things, do not consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness. And rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise” (Isaiah 43: 18-21 NKJV).
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5: 17 NKJV).
“Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And he said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21: 5, 6 NKJV).
Wow! Powerful verses. They make a statement just on their own. They don’t need any commentary from me. But, still —
Several things struck me as I reflected on these words to me from God:
He is the one making all things new, not me. I have a tendency to fixate on problems, even problems much bigger than me, and get anxious about them as if somehow solving them is my responsibility. He is making all things new, not me. How long will it take for me to understand this basic principle?
He is making or has made all things new. Not some things, all things. Really? It doesn’t look that way to me. But there is a new spirit in the land — in my heart, my country, the world. Something has been birthed and is even now breaking out, like a chick pecking its way out of a shell. I am not the only one perceiving this, I have read prophesies lately that agree that a ‘new thing’ is springing forth. A new spirit, a new heart, a new mind — a renewed mind for those who follow Christ. And ‘new’ not just in the sense of different, but better. Improved. In a strange way, I believe the increased level of persecution of Christians in the world and even in my country, is connected to this ‘new thing’.
The old has passed away. It is time to bury the old. At least it is time to deny the ‘old’ any more power over us. Memories might linger, but it is time to say to them “you have no power over me”. It is time to recognize that for those of us living in the Kingdom of God (‘in Christ’) we are a new creation. It is time to turn our backs on the old, tired, lifeless, and life-sucking shame and guilt. Let those old tired, dirty, moth-eaten, thread-bare clothes fall off of our bodies. Underneath them is a new suit of majestic, brilliant, bright and beautiful clothes meant for all the world to see — not to say “Look at me” like a strutting peacock, but to say “Look at what Christ has done for me, look at who I am in Christ.”
Jesus is saying to me “tell them it is time — you have carried the old life around like a ball and chain. You are free in Me. Let the old go. Choose the new.”
“All things new” also means our circumstances are changing. Old ways of living, old battles that we are still fighting, old patterns of life are being replaced with new life — more light, more health, more victory, more provision, a new future awaiting us. A new way, a new road, a new ‘thing’ has been created for us by God. A way or road out of the desert has been opened for us. This road will lead us into the ‘well-watered garden’, where we will enter into a new relationship with God. Speaking of relationships, I sense God is saying it is time to let go of some old relationships that are not life-giving, and to enter into new relationships with people who will bring us new joy, new peace; and a new, deeper faith.
“I have made all things new” means life-giving water will flow into places where before we lived thirsty, barren lives. His Spirit is about to break into our hearts in new, fresh, satisfying, and fulfilling ways. Not just springs in the desert, but rivers of living water flowing into our hearts, and out of our hearts into the world bringing new life.
If I had to pick one world to describe what “Behold, I make all things new” means to me, it is hope. Jesus made all things new, Jesus is making all things new, Jesus will continue to make all things new. I don’t have to fear or be anxious. Change is difficult for people. But His change, turning the old patterns of thinking, speaking, and acting; turning old ways of ‘doing church’, and relating to the world around us into new ways, should not cause anxiety. Because they are His ways, the new will always be good, always be better.
But still, these words in my mind this morning did not speak of past or present change. They spoke of a change, a newness now, today. For me for sure, but the words were for more than me. Something now. “Behold, I have made all things new.” Some newness that Jesus did while I was asleep. I don’t fully understand. I just know that He wanted the words to be words of encouragement, words of hope, words signifying His presence with us, and words of peace. And I sensed that these words were words of power. He is with us, creating, bringing new life into existence, right now. Doing these things to accomplish His purposes but also, to bless us, His children.
From one new creation to another,
John